By Eion Maison
In the May 12 column entitled “Qualitative Approach to Development – Creativity, Innovation and Intangibles”, I suggested that there are many problems in St. Maarten, but instead of shouting at them, I will proffer the Maison Model for development in Small Island States by the employ of creativity and innovation. Today I introduce you to the theory of Wicked Problems in Design Innovation. How can a problem be wicked and leaders virtuous?
The wickedness of the problem
Wicked problems are social problems that cannot be solved in a traditional linear way of moving from step one to step two to the nth step because a wicked problem is usually hard to define, and if it is defined, the possible solutions may not be clear-cut: Can you think of any such problem on St. Maarten?
Rittel & Webber (1974) posited that a wicked problem is one for which each attempt to create a solution changes the understanding of the problem. Further, wicked problems always occur in a social context.
Funny but true; the wickedness of the problem reflects the diversity among the stakeholders in the problem. For example, for St. Maarten, this diversity may be caused by coalition interest, national interest, investor privilege, or self-disenfranchisement due to spoiled votes, random selection, or absenteeism, or different thinking about future status.
The wickedness in the problem is fleshed out when there is consistently no quorum, slow to no implementation, passing the buck, filibustering, and “missing” dockets, to name a few. Anything sounds familiar, so far?
From the beginning of these columns on Innovation, I stated that we need a system of innovation. This system of innovation can be acquired by diffusion from the innovations that we have chronicled during the First Industrial Revolution to Fourth Industrial Revolution.
The diffusion process necessitates us in St. Maarten and the other Small Island Developing States enacting legislation and pursuing policies that would bring each nation innovation by design through a strategic allocation of government ministries, investor guidelines, educational and technological sustainable development goals that would engender creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship on our beautiful island.
Do you know a wicked problem?
Wicked problems are characterised as follows: When the solution is developed, then the true nature of the problem shows up by the presence of evolving set of interlocking issues and constraints never imagined. Which problem on St. Maarten is this? Another measure of wickedness is that there is no stopping rule or stop dates; since there is no defined problem, then there can be no definite solution. This means we will faster run out of resources trying to find an answer. Can you name a problem like this?
The extent of the wickedness is there is not a right or wrong answer to the wicked problem, simply "better," "worse," "good enough" or "not good enough. Do you know a problem like this? Every solution to a wicked problem is like taking a chance. We cannot build the tunnel in St. Peters to see how it will work out. Neither can we try out for independence. This is like a “Catch 22.” For this type of wicked problem, every solution has consequences, but a decision must be made. Can you think of another such wicked problem in St. Maarten?
Sensemaking and the wicked problem
You cannot find the answer to the problem if you do not understand the question. In my July 7 column entitled Sensemaking and Post-Irma Development in St. Maarten, I intimated that sensemaking is the ability to determine a deeper meaning of what has happed, and how to find creative and innovative solutions to the problems identified.
Sensemaking, therefore, is an analytical tool that brings objectivity to the process which removes subjective prejudices, reduces biases and help to share understanding. Rittel and Webber share my conclusion that to understand a wicked problem, we must collectively make sense of the situation and come to publicly shared understanding about who wants what, why, how, where and when.
Wicked questions for wicked problems
I like this quote by Niels Bohr, “How wonderful that we have met with a paradox. Now we have some hope of making progress.” It shows that we can rise to our greatest heights when we face our greatest challenges.
With all the social problems, our leaders are now forced to think and to act. The title of this column, “Wicked Problems for Impeccant Leaders”, suggests that our leaders are up to the task by virtue of their party’s manifestos, experience, portfolio, and all the right mindset to solve these wicked problems (some of them you identified earlier) that plague us in St. Maarten.
Today, I will explore one such tool available to our great leaders: a tool that is needed to articulate the paradoxical challenges that confront them, in successive cohorts. New leaders must ask the tough questions, and experienced leaders should ask the wicked questions.
Wicked Questions will engross all and sundry in strategic thinking by bringing out all the parts or pieces of the puzzle that they each hold, and we will see the sum of the parts being equal or greater that the whole.
We want to hear parliamentary debates that bring out the paradoxical-yet-complementary forces that can influence change and development on St. Maarten, that are constantly influencing behaviours and that are particularly important during change efforts.
Their boardrooms must be safe spaces for exchanges of Wicked Questions that bridge policy with what is happening on-the-ground and in every district regardless of the party colours of the electorates.
The structures of the Wicket Questions are questions that invite partnership and country above self; active group work and parliamentary committees agreeing to disagree, as is happening on some issues presently; equal opportunity to contribute and represent the vision of the country above the politics; lastly, presentation of time-task relationship for solution of the wicked problems we all face. Which year(s) can we expect solution to the wicked problems we face in St. Maarten?
Eion Maison is a researcher and Ph. D. candidate of the University of the Virgin Islands. Contact info: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
